Microsoft Tests AI Summary Feature in Notepad

Microsoft has rolled out an update for users in the Canary and Dev channels of the Windows Insider program, introducing an AI-powered summarization feature to Notepad. By simply highlighting a block of text, right-clicking, and selecting "Summarize," users can generate a concise summary of the selected content. The length of the summary can also be customized through the settings. In addition to using the context menu, users can trigger the summarization function via the Ctrl+M shortcut or by choosing "Summarize" from the Copilot menu.

Similar to other AI features in Windows 11, utilizing the AI-based summarization tool in Notepad requires signing in with a Microsoft account. However, users have the option to completely disable AI capabilities within the app's settings. It’s worth noting that Microsoft began testing AI-driven rewriting tools in Notepad last year.

Beyond the AI-powered summarization feature, Microsoft is also experimenting with another new capability in Notepad: viewing recently closed files. Meanwhile, Snipping Tool has received an innovative enhancement called "draw & hold." When marking screenshots, users can now straighten lines, arrows, rectangles, or ellipses automatically by pausing the cursor slightly while drawing. Once created, these shapes can be resized, repositioned, or modified further. This functionality closely mirrors a similar feature offered by Apple.